[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
skeleton was found in the swamp or out in the woods
somewhere, she swore it was her Kaithlin. That s why I
have to do this. She would never rest in peace if R. J.
was allowed to steal Kaithlin again.
Kaithlin s second husband wants her too, I said
flatly. I saw him today.
From what I hear, she said wistfully, he sounds
like a decent man, like a real husband. I d love to see a
picture of Kaithlin s little girls, Reva s granddaugh
ters.
Here! He gave me this today. I removed the enve
lope from my bag and took out the photo. Aren t they
beautiful? Like Kaithlin at that age. I gave it to her,
then fetched her spectacles from the sideboard.
She stared at the happy faces for a long time. The
kettle whistled and I went to find the cups, teabags, and
spoons. When I returned, she had both hands to her
face, weeping.
I set the steaming cups on the table, then stood pat
ting her shoulder helplessly, looking down at the pink
scalp through her thinning hair, tears in my own eyes.
I ll have a copy made for you, I promised.
What are their names again? she said, making lit
tle snuffling sounds.
Caitlin and Devon, I said, and handed her a tissue
from my bag. As we talked and sipped tea, her eyes
kept returning to the photo.
They even had a dog, she whispered.
What I need to know, I said, getting down to busi
YOU ONLY DIE TWICE 291
ness, is the date Kaithlin s son, her first child, was
born.
She lifted her eyes and blinked. Why?
It s very important, I said urgently. When exactly
was he born?
Her brow creased. I don t remember now. It was in
the spring, I think, or maybe the fall. It was so many
years ago. I remember, she was showing at Easter
time, she said vaguely, or was it the feast of St.
Stephen?
I need the precise date, I coaxed. Can you re
member anyone else who might recall it, who was there
at the time?
She shook her head. Reva didn t want anyone to
know, she said. There was a friend of Reva s, a
woman. She had tried to help with Kaithlin. But I don t
recall her last name.
She pursed her lips, frowning over her teacup.
Her first name was Catherine. She worked at Jor
dan s. She was very kind, tried to help, but there was
nothing
Catherine? I stared at her. Kaithlin s supervisor at
the store?
She nodded. Reva knew her. She came to the hos
pital to comfort Kaithlin when the baby was born. She
frowned. But I wouldn t know where to find her
now.
My hands shook as I put down my cup. I do, I said.
I called her office from my car. The sun had reemerged
and the air was clear and bright again.
She wasn t in, the receptionist said.
292 EDNA BUCHANAN
Are you sure? I asked, impatient. Was she ducking
me even at work? When do you expect her?
Who s calling, please?
Swell, I thought, if I blow my cover she ll never
come to the phone. Her daughter, Britt.
Her daughter? The woman sounded puzzled. Hi,
Britt. Are you in town?
Yes, is there a problem?
Ms. Montero has been out sick all week. I don t
know when she ll be in.
Sick?
I assumed you d know.
I mumbled something and hung up, the distant, ne
glectful, uncaring daughter. Was she really ill?
I remembered the name of the insurance agency Nel
son operated and called him. Have you spoken to my
mom today? I asked. She s not in her office.
I know. He cleared his throat. I m concerned
about her.
What s wrong?
She s been down in the dumps lately. Depressed.
What s the problem? I asked.
Well, he said, you should know.
Her convertible sat in its reserved slot outside her build
ing. I parked next to it and waved to the doorman, who
buzzed me in. When she didn t answer her bell, I rapped
loudly with the metal knocker. No answer. Nothing. I
dialed her number on my cell phone and heard it ring
inside. Still no answer. Dread gnawed at my stomach. I
fumbled for the key she gave me in case of emergency.
YOU ONLY DIE TWICE 293
Before I found it, I heard a sound on the other side, a
movement at the peephole.
Mom? It s me, Britt.
Can you come back later? she said. She sounded
groggy, as though she d been sleeping.
No, I said. Open the door.
I m not dressed.
I don t care. Open it.
I thanked God she was all right as I heard the chain
lock clatter.
Pale without makeup, her hair tousled, she was bare
foot and wearing a rumpled full-length cotton night
gown in midafternoon. The nightgown looked like [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl aikidobyd.xlx.pl
skeleton was found in the swamp or out in the woods
somewhere, she swore it was her Kaithlin. That s why I
have to do this. She would never rest in peace if R. J.
was allowed to steal Kaithlin again.
Kaithlin s second husband wants her too, I said
flatly. I saw him today.
From what I hear, she said wistfully, he sounds
like a decent man, like a real husband. I d love to see a
picture of Kaithlin s little girls, Reva s granddaugh
ters.
Here! He gave me this today. I removed the enve
lope from my bag and took out the photo. Aren t they
beautiful? Like Kaithlin at that age. I gave it to her,
then fetched her spectacles from the sideboard.
She stared at the happy faces for a long time. The
kettle whistled and I went to find the cups, teabags, and
spoons. When I returned, she had both hands to her
face, weeping.
I set the steaming cups on the table, then stood pat
ting her shoulder helplessly, looking down at the pink
scalp through her thinning hair, tears in my own eyes.
I ll have a copy made for you, I promised.
What are their names again? she said, making lit
tle snuffling sounds.
Caitlin and Devon, I said, and handed her a tissue
from my bag. As we talked and sipped tea, her eyes
kept returning to the photo.
They even had a dog, she whispered.
What I need to know, I said, getting down to busi
YOU ONLY DIE TWICE 291
ness, is the date Kaithlin s son, her first child, was
born.
She lifted her eyes and blinked. Why?
It s very important, I said urgently. When exactly
was he born?
Her brow creased. I don t remember now. It was in
the spring, I think, or maybe the fall. It was so many
years ago. I remember, she was showing at Easter
time, she said vaguely, or was it the feast of St.
Stephen?
I need the precise date, I coaxed. Can you re
member anyone else who might recall it, who was there
at the time?
She shook her head. Reva didn t want anyone to
know, she said. There was a friend of Reva s, a
woman. She had tried to help with Kaithlin. But I don t
recall her last name.
She pursed her lips, frowning over her teacup.
Her first name was Catherine. She worked at Jor
dan s. She was very kind, tried to help, but there was
nothing
Catherine? I stared at her. Kaithlin s supervisor at
the store?
She nodded. Reva knew her. She came to the hos
pital to comfort Kaithlin when the baby was born. She
frowned. But I wouldn t know where to find her
now.
My hands shook as I put down my cup. I do, I said.
I called her office from my car. The sun had reemerged
and the air was clear and bright again.
She wasn t in, the receptionist said.
292 EDNA BUCHANAN
Are you sure? I asked, impatient. Was she ducking
me even at work? When do you expect her?
Who s calling, please?
Swell, I thought, if I blow my cover she ll never
come to the phone. Her daughter, Britt.
Her daughter? The woman sounded puzzled. Hi,
Britt. Are you in town?
Yes, is there a problem?
Ms. Montero has been out sick all week. I don t
know when she ll be in.
Sick?
I assumed you d know.
I mumbled something and hung up, the distant, ne
glectful, uncaring daughter. Was she really ill?
I remembered the name of the insurance agency Nel
son operated and called him. Have you spoken to my
mom today? I asked. She s not in her office.
I know. He cleared his throat. I m concerned
about her.
What s wrong?
She s been down in the dumps lately. Depressed.
What s the problem? I asked.
Well, he said, you should know.
Her convertible sat in its reserved slot outside her build
ing. I parked next to it and waved to the doorman, who
buzzed me in. When she didn t answer her bell, I rapped
loudly with the metal knocker. No answer. Nothing. I
dialed her number on my cell phone and heard it ring
inside. Still no answer. Dread gnawed at my stomach. I
fumbled for the key she gave me in case of emergency.
YOU ONLY DIE TWICE 293
Before I found it, I heard a sound on the other side, a
movement at the peephole.
Mom? It s me, Britt.
Can you come back later? she said. She sounded
groggy, as though she d been sleeping.
No, I said. Open the door.
I m not dressed.
I don t care. Open it.
I thanked God she was all right as I heard the chain
lock clatter.
Pale without makeup, her hair tousled, she was bare
foot and wearing a rumpled full-length cotton night
gown in midafternoon. The nightgown looked like [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]